Florida Bill to "Protect Religious Leaders" from Same-Sex Marriage to Be Discussed at Hearing

The House Civil Justice Committee is holding a hearing today on a proposed new law called “The Pastor Protection Act,” which is designed to supposedly protect Florida’s clergy from performing marriages they deem "unholy." But many, including some pastors and ministers, are arguing that the law is unnecessary since clergy are already protected by the constitution. Same-sex marriage advocates say the law is designed merely to be a stepping stone to more future laws that could impede progress for the LGBT community.

"Some fear that the innocuous-sounding bill could become a vehicle late in the session for other religious-exemption or anti-LGBT proposals," civil rights advocates Equality Florida said via a statement Wednesday. They also called the law "needlessly divisive."

Orlando-area Rep. Scott Plakon, who wrote the law, has said that it's "a good idea to put this extra layer of protection explicitly in Florida law."

Plakon argues that the law would protect clergy who believe that same-sex marriage as something that's against their religion, and are worried. that, in light of recent events, the government will one day force them to marry same-sex couples.